‘Take them away, crush them’: Australia faces an ebike surge that some say poses a health emergency

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Luca Ittimani and Ima CaldwellFebruary 7, 2026 at 01:26 AM

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long article 5 min

Australia is experiencing a surge in ebike use, leading to concerns about public safety and a potential "health emergency." The government is considering stricter measures, including crushing illegal ebikes, due to a rise in accidents and fatalities. New South Wales alone recorded 233 injuries and four deaths related to ebikes in the first seven months of 2025. The popularity of ebikes, driven by convenience and accessibility for teenagers, has also impacted businesses, with some experiencing cancellations after fatal accidents. Authorities are struggling to manage the boom, with an estimated million ebikes already in Sydney.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Manly Bikes 40% Manly beach ×250% Sydney Harbour Bridge 50% Chris Minns 50% Queensland 50% Francisco Furman 50% Ben Boucher ×260% Sydney ×260% New South Wales 70% Mark Butler 70% Australia ×290%

Keywords

ebikes 100% australia 90% road safety 80% injuries 70% e-motorcycles 70% ebike surge 70% illegal ebikes 60% health emergency 60% transport emissions 50% traffic congestion 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.30

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Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Australia

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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ebikes australia road safety injuries e-motorcycles ebike surge illegal ebikes health emergency transport emissions traffic congestion

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